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Bearing in mind they hadn't even arrived at Hogwarts yet, it was honestly quite impressive ( maybe that was the wrong word to use) that Harry had been attacked already, Mara couldn't help but think as she followed Neville Longbottom to her brothers carriage, where she was met with the unwelcoming faces of Hermione, Ron and — a middle aged man?
She paid them little mind as she sat down beside her brother, who appeared — how could she say it in a nice way? — like he had when they were nine and had gone on the twizzler ride at a pop-up theme park ( he insisted he wasn't scared only to throw up six times in a row once they'd gotten off of the ride ) "oh my god."
"I'm alright," Harry reassured his sister, who'd slung her arms around him, pulling him into perhaps the tightest hug he'd ever received — well, par a few we just survived death embraces he'd shared with Ron and Hermione — "do you want some chocolate, I can't finish mine, feel a bit sick."
Mara looked at the dark chocolate inquisitively, is that green and blacks? She wondered. "You nearly got like, eaten by a dementor, and you're still eating sweets. I thought you grew out of this after first year." A smile made its way to Harry's face at the reminder of their first train ride together. When they were truly a family.
"Ah," a voice, one that, unless Ron Weasley had gone through puberty in the past five minutes, must have belonged to the middle-aged man. "I'm afraid it was me who gave Harry the chocolate, it helps with dementor attacks." Mara observed the man; thin, tall, had a scar that stretched across his face and a warm smile on his lips. She concluded that he wasn't bad to look at — better than most of the boys in her year, at least.
"Thanks for looking out for him," Mara nodded at him, his smile widening an inch more. Turning her attention back to Harry, she said, "you have no idea how stressed I was when Neville came into my carriage — I thought you were dead! — I elbowed a second year out the way and everything." She knew he wasn't gravely injured, but she felt that sisterly concern was necessary in times like these.
A fully formed smile finally cracked on Harry's face, "I'm sorry, next time I'll make sure I'm on the verge of dying before disturbing you."
"No, not the verge of dying," it came out too quickly. She contemplated her next words, "just be like, somewhat injured and in desperate need for my help. Otherwise what can I do, really?"
Harry nodded along, "I'll be sure to remember that." The way he spoke conveyed to Mara that their conversation was over, that her presence was no longer necessary in his carriage. Looking around at the uncomfortably standing Ron and Hermione, Mara thought to herself, ah. That's my cue to leave.
"Well, I should probably get going, seeing as you're okay." She stood up, somewhat awkwardly smiling as she looked around the carriage. "I'll see you at Hogwarts."
She never would have noticed Harry's smile dropping ever so slightly. He didn't want her there anymore, she thought. "Alright. See you."
Mara stopped for a moment by the sliding door, "you sure you're okay?" If he gave even the slightest indication that he wasn't, she would stay.
"Yeah, of course I'm fine. The chocolate's got me all cured." By that point, Hermione and Ron had sat back down, looking less uncomfortable with the Potter girls presence by the second, clearly they couldn't wait until she left.
"Okay," she smiled at Ron, Hermione and the middle aged man, who still hadn't introduced himself, "have a nice rest of your train journey." It was only the middle aged man who smiled back. And with that, Mara made her way back to her carriage, like nothing had happened at all.
The rumours of Harry having fainted seemed to spread to the entirety of Hogwarts by the time they'd found themselves in the Great Hall, and Mara knew that this was just the beginning of an unbearably shit year for Harry — the poor guy can't catch a break.
With her head in her hands, Mara felt like going to sleep and never waking up again, but the unbearably loud voice of Dumbledore hindered her plans. "Welcome to another year at Hogwarts! As you all will be aware after their search of the Hogwarts Express, our school is presently playing host to some of the Dementors of Azkaban, who are here on Ministry of Magic business." He paused for effect, like this was a dramatic monologue or some shit. Get on with it, she thought. "On a happier note," Dumbledore continued, finally. "I am pleased to welcome two new teachers to our ranks this year. First, Professor Lupin, who has kindly consented to fill the post of Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher."
It was only then that Mara had noticed the middle aged man from the train, who had been sitting at the teachers table since they stepped foot in the Great Hall. No wonder he knew about the after effects of a dementor attack. His announcement was met with rather unenthusiastic applause, from everyone besides Hermione, Ron and Harry, that was.
From beside the Gryffindor table, sat a rather discontented Kaleb Wollter sitting alongside Blaise Zabini, who, upon noticing her, over-enthusiastically waved, not caring for the judgemental look Draco Malfoy threw his way.
"Meet me after this." She was sixty percent sure he mouthed, as Dumbledore finally concluded the announcements, by which point everyone was growing positively ravenous for food.
"Thank fuck," Lucas exclaimed when a fully roasted chicken appeared before him. "Thought that would never end."
"Oh you're so gross," Mara put her hands in front of Lucas's face, hiding it from her. "Shut your mouth when you're eating." He only grinned and continued to speak, much to everyone's protest.
"Chin up, Potter." Lena said, leaning over towards her friend, who had been prodding her food for the past five minutes. "I have the feeling this year will be different."
"Oh yeah?" She wasn't convinced, "you're saying my brother won't try to get himself killed?"
"No." Harry Potter putting himself in a near-death situation seemed to be a yearly occurrence, by that point. "but somethings going to come to and end, I think. You know?"
Mara couldn't help but laugh. "Yeah, my will to live."
"Have you ever really had that, anyway?" Lena questioned with a grin that said she was joking — Mara still saw it as the most candor thing that had been said all evening. "You want to go?" By that point, countless students had begun to clamour out of the Great Hall.
"I think I'm meeting Blaise, I'll catch up with you later." She bid her friends a quick farewell before noticing her brother amongst the students cramming out of the Hall. "Are you okay?" He seemed less optimistic than he had on the train — rumours are deadly — truthfully, he really did contemplate going up to her and crying his eyes out, but upon noticing Blaise avidly approaching behind her, he opted for a quick nod of the head. It's better than nothing.
A pair of hands grabbing at her shoulders distracted Mara from her brothers curt response, "fucking hell!" She exclaimed, turning around to find Kaleb Wollter pissing himself laughing alongside Blaise.
"Told you she'd scream," Blaise remarked. "How was your summer, Mar?"
"I sent you letters every week, you know just about everything." She said with a resolute certainty that nothing in her life happened without Blaise knowing of it. "Wait!"She suddenly thought . . .
. . . "Oh my god, did I tell you about my aunt?"
authors note. one day i'll give u guys consistent updates
